For a rocket, spacecraft, or helicopter to leave the ground and rise into the air; also for something to be removed from a surface.
When a rocket or helicopter goes straight up into the sky; or when something is picked up off a surface.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
(Of a rocket, spacecraft, or helicopter) to leave the ground and rise vertically into the air.
"The space shuttle lifted off at dawn amid cheers from thousands of spectators."
We have lift-off.
— NASA Mission Control, Apollo 11 launch, 16 July 1969
To remove something by picking it up and away from a surface.
"Carefully lift off the lid of the jar so you don't spill the contents."
(Figurative, informal) for something to start working, growing, or becoming successful.
"The marketing campaign finally lifted off after they switched to social media advertising."
To raise something upward so that it separates from a surface.
When a rocket or helicopter goes straight up into the sky; or when something is picked up off a surface.
'Lift off' as a two-word verb is mostly intransitive (the rocket lifts off). As a noun/adjective it is hyphenated: 'liftoff' or 'lift-off'. The transitive use ('lift the lid off') is separable. The aviation/space sense is very well-known due to NASA broadcasts.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "lift off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.